Marina Berth - Do you enter forwards or backwards

[owen-cox]

I always try to go in stern first for ease of access to the boat and on the theory that if I want to leave in a hurry its easy also it is standard practice all over the med where I sailed for years. its much easier too I find because you can see the pontoon and reach the stern lines hook them on and put the engine in forward then the boat is secure ready to attach the bow line last.

 

[oldsaltoz]

99% stern first, then just step off the sugar scoop. 42 foot long and almost 20 feet wide, twin saildrives, very manoeuvrable.
We only go in bow first if we have an approaching tropical storm.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[richardsnowstar]

My Southerly 115 has a moulded-in step aft of the widest beam. So ideally I come in backwards so the crew have a lower and closer step on to the pontoon. But sometimes the wind or current means that I come in bow first. This is all berths, not just my home berth.

 

[richardsnowstar]

Reversing into a what

My understanding is the "fairway" is the bit of water in the marina between the moored boats. It is the strip of water you go down before turning into your berth.

 

[Daydream believer]

If doing your yachtmaster then it all depends on wind & tide
But once you get good at it then it depends where the boat with the best totty is berthed
You just tell the wife you are practicing your manoeuvring technique

 

[Dave99]

depends on wind speed and direction and how the boat handles in astern...

 

[Leighb]

Long keeler, no way to predict where she might decide to go if trying to reverse in, so always enter forwards. When leaving I push her out and we hope she will behave, but if not we go along with whatever mood she is in.

 

[Vara]

However, warping out to go home, I made an enormous fist of it all. Didn't hit anything but my reputation was and remains in tatters......

Didnt hit anything and nobody injured counts as a total success for me.


Oh and at home berth I always go in forwards as that way prop wash is working for me.

 

[cliff]

Do you enter forwards or backwards

Do you have any particular reasons for selecting one or the other ?

Or do you vary it sometimes ? Perhaps due to weather.

Forwards when feeling in missionary mode and plan to stay for a while but backwards when feeling in canine mode or just entering for a quick stop over to clear the tubes.